Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)

45% of critics liked it
(121 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(54,289 ratings)

The legendary rogue of the seven seas confronts a new assortment of dangers and thrills in this animated action-adventure tale. Sinbad (voice of Brad Pitt) and his crews of pirate adventurers are hoping to retire to Fiji, and they discover a treasure that could make that possible -- the Book of… More The legendary rogue of the seven seas confronts a new assortment of dangers and thrills in this animated action-adventure tale. Sinbad (voice of Brad Pitt) and his crews of pirate adventurers are hoping to retire to Fiji, and they discover a treasure that could make that possible -- the Book of Peace, which has kept the Twelve Cities in harmony for centuries. But Sinbad's plan to snatch the magic book is complicated when he learns it's on board a ship captained by his longtime friend Proteus (voice of Joseph Fiennes). While Sinbad still has his eye on the book, so does the mischievous goddess Eris (voice of Michelle Pfeifer), who sends a deadly sea monster into Sinbad's path to scuttle his plans. With the help of Proteus, Sinbad prevails over the beast, and determined Eris responds by snatching the book and framing Sinbad for the crime. Noble Proteus offers to step in for Sinbad and take his punishment, so now the adventurer has ten days to rescue the book from Eris or Proteus will pay with his life. While Sinbad is at first uncertain if he should take on such a dangerous assignment or simply high-tail it to Fiji, someone is on hand to persuade him -- Marina (voice of Catherine Zeta-Jones), Proteus' lovely but hard-headed fiancée, who has stowed away on Sinbad's ship. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas was the first animated feature written by John Logan, who received an Oscar nomination for his script for Gladiator. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Patrick Gilmore (III), Tim Johnson
Written By: John Logan
Genres: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Romance

In Theaters: Jul 2, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Nov 18, 2003
Studio: DreamWorks SKG

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Foreman, New York Post
Bland music, marquee-friendly casting and crassly contemporary dialogue give this film the mechanical feel of a marketing exercise, not a movie.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Business-as-usual movie that isn't trying to make anything more than a medium-size splash.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
It's less the story of Sinbad than a compilation of greatest hits from Mythland.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
A movie carefully engineered for an audience of exactly nobody.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
The effects are competent, the action has exciting moments and the story is interesting enough, but the parts don't add up to a compelling sum.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
An efficiently amusing and unsurprisingly polished blend of traditional hand-drawn and computer-generated animation techniques.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Dazzling special effects, not much else.
Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review
A visually exhilarating mix of hand-drawn and computer-generated images that sets sail with a rather mediocre and clichéd script.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
As routine as many live-action adventure films, right down to the competent but fairly undistinguished art and animation.
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Handily outdoes [Treasure Planet], with bravura action set pieces, a surprisingly complex romantic triangle, and thoughtful exploration of moral issues and character.
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
While younger kids will enjoy the magic and adventure, the real mystery is whether older audiences will respond as well.
David Foucher, EDGE Boston
Even the voices of Brad Pitt, Michelle Pfeiffer and Catherine Zeta-Jones can't save this movie from just feeling "blah..."
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
It's a decent summer distraction for restless little ones, but not much more.
Jesse Hassenger, PopMatters
For all of its freedom of movement, the film lacks real personality, and in parts, it's oddly serious-minded.
Kevin A. Ranson, MovieCrypt.com
... entertains and fully exploits all the accomplishments DreamWorks' animation department has made to this point... "Sinbad" stands as an accomplishment all on its own.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Dreamworks animation has a lot to live up to after Shrek, but this wacky and high-spirited version of the Sinbad legend really isn't too bad.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Drake T

Haha RT, really? 46%? I love it when critics just get things wrong. Sinbad is one of the few animated movies out there to approach the genre with a morally open story/protagonist and a sophisticated, convincing romance. The film's obviously targeted at young adults, teens… More
Haha RT, really? 46%? I love it when critics just get things wrong. Sinbad is one of the few animated movies out there to approach the genre with a morally open story/protagonist and a sophisticated, convincing romance. The film's obviously targeted at young adults, teens unwilling to put up with the patronization of Disney films but still yearn for a beautifully animated and competent fantasy journey. The biggest folly is the completely one dimensional storytelling, I wish Proteus's point of view played a larger role in the grand scheme of things as Sinbad's journey just seems redundant after the first couple of action sequences. Also, just watch Eris move, she's meant to be animated.
Alexander W

One of my favourite animations, much funner than the last two POTC movies.
danny d

i enjoyed this movie very much. it took alot of flack, but i didnt see why. it was entertaining and creative, the characters were about as engaging as one would expect from an animated film. fun to watch.
Rachel F

Really cute animated film.
Deb S

Plot: The story follows Sinbad, one of the greatest thieves the world has ever known. His latest temptation is the Book of Peace, which is being guarded by his close friend, Proteus (Joseph Fiennes). The Goddess of Chaos, Eris, gets bored with the normal peaceful world, so she decides… More
Plot: The story follows Sinbad, one of the greatest thieves the world has ever known. His latest temptation is the Book of Peace, which is being guarded by his close friend, Proteus (Joseph Fiennes). The Goddess of Chaos, Eris, gets bored with the normal peaceful world, so she decides to shake things up in a big way. Eris, disguised as Sinbad, steals the Book of Peace. Proteus sticks up for his friend but the high officials have sentenced him to death and now Sinbad must sail across the seas in 10 days to get the Book of Peace back from Eris or his friend Proteus will be executed in his place. Proteus' beautiful fiancée, Marina, decides to tag along to make sure the job gets done. Now the crew is on the ride of their life as they battle the elements, along with a few monsters, to retrieve the Book of Peace (a magical book that keeps the Twelve Cities safe from harm) and save the life of Proteus before it is too late. A great adventure filled with fast paced action sequences, witty dialogue, handsome leading man, beautiful but intelligent damsel, funny dog and quirky sidekicks. In my opinion it works really well and took me along for a pleasant ride. My favourite scene would be the one with the Sirens ("Who's bad?... Sinbad...") Brad Pitt is believable as the fun-loving Sinbad. Catherine Zeta-Jones is also good as the vulnerable, but tough Marina and the villain Goddess of Chaos (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) is perfectly sexy and seductive as Eris. She is so evil you just got to love her.
Jackson W

A bland portrayal of a cartoon Jack Sparrow with a promising voice cast gone to waste